Black Friday discounts arrive early after slow month for retail sales

Press Photo/Katy BatdorffPatty Szczepanski and Melanie Varano shop for gifts Thursday at Kohl's before its big early sale. "I try to get all my shopping done early," said Varano, of Rockford.

The economy is casting a Grinchy green pall over the holiday shopping season that may have retailers seeing red.

Nearly all major retailers reported sales were down for October from last year. Several surveys of shoppers forecast more of the same for the holiday season.

Like an old-fashioned holiday flick, retailers still believe shoppers, in the end, won't let financial
fears keep them from the tradition of gift buying.

To help shoppers, retailers are stretching out the holiday season by offering sales and deals usually found in the shopping frenzy of Black Friday.

"I think they are trying not to wait until Black Friday because if they do, other retailers will beat them to the punch," said Ed Bentley, regional leader for Deloitte & Touche USA LLP

Several major retailers have announced aggressive holiday marketing programs that begin earlier than previous years.

CHANGE OF PACE

Here's what 538 Michigan shoppers said.

• 60 percent are cutting back; up 7 percent

• 72 percent shopping differently this season because of economy; not asked last year.

• Will spend an average $517 on gifts; down 12 percent.

• Will buy 21 gifts; down 12 percent

• 66 percent will give gift cards; down 1 percent.

SOURCE: Deloitte & Touche LLP USA

Kmart Stores launched pre-Black Friday sales last week on Halloween weekend, while Kohl's Department Stores is holding its first sales this weekend.

"This holiday season, Kohl's is bringing customers tremendous deals and more frequent values earlier in the season, such as the Power Hours event this weekend," said Ryan Ratajewski, spokesman for the Menomonee Falls, Wis.-based retailer.

One of those consumers is Melanie Varano, 29, who has taken notice of the big discounts being offered.

"I try to get all my shopping done early," said the Rockford mother, who was holiday shopping with her mother at Kohl's Walker store on Thursday afternoon.

Retail may take a bigger hit in Michigan, with 60 percent of shoppers planning to to spend less on holiday shopping, according to Deloitte's annual holiday survey.

Seventy-two percent said they will shop differently by buying more on sale, less expensive items and by using coupons.

They expect to spend $517 -- 12 percent less than last year and purchase 21 gifts, down from 24.

"If it's not on sale, people are going to say, 'I don't need it or I'm going to wait,'" said Bentley, who described the results as the least positive in a decade of surveys.

But those 538 Michigan residents surveyed in late September and early October might be a little more optimistic now.